Same old Same old and Thanksgiving

 I really didn't do anything other than the same old same old the 2 1/2 weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.  Here are a few of the same old same old things I did.  Every Tuesday morning, I went to the temple.  We (Christa and I and my mom when she isn't working)  are getting a few more ladies from our ward coming with us.  I think the most we have had so far is 6.  The first Thursday of the month one of the ladies in my ward puts on a craft night.  This month we made a wooden turkey.  It was by far the best turn out at her craft night.  Lots of ladies and late night chatting.  Talmage had his yearly doctors appt, Brenton had his first Youth Conference experience, Payton had a primary class party where they painted nails and made pop top bracelets.  I went to a Thanksgiving feast with Jon at Connor's school.  The next day, I made cornbread for Hayden's class they were tasting food that the Pilgrims and Indians would of had at the first Thanksgiving.  Jon and I also went to a wedding reception.  And of course, the normal Wednesday night Activity Day Girls, Scouts and Cub Scouts.  

Hayden the Pilgrim

Hayden a pilgrim

 This year we were at home for Thanksgiving.  We spent our Thanksgiving feast with Jon's mom and dad.  My parents and Morgan and Taylor went to California and the Tady's went to his family's house.  The Edward's want nothing to do with any of the extended family so it was a small gathering.  We got together around 11 am and ate after everything was carved, cooked and set.  I was in charge of the mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green been casserole, strawberries, and french silk chocolate pie.  Jon's mom cooked the turkey, brought rolls, and made pumpkin pie.   I was able to make everything except the potatoes and gravy the day before so it was quiet a relaxing Thanksgiving day.  I was even able to run that morning and go to the gas station to pick up a newspaper.  Jon's parents only stayed a few hours and then headed home.  I guess they got up real early that morning to buy a good deal online.  So they were in need of some naps.  The meal was great, but it was just way to quiet in the house for it being a holiday.  I hope next year we have more people to spend it with.  This whole month while I have been out running, I have been focusing on things that I am Thankful for.  Believe it or not, I could think of a different thing everyday some days multiple things. 

Thanksgiving minus Jon and Connor


 

Tellus Science Museum

On Saturday, November 5th we went to the Tellus Science Museum.  It is in Cartersville about 40 minutes away.  This museum is only a couple years old and I hear commercials on the radio all the time about it.  It isn't a very big museum.  The museum itself has a rock and mineral area, a fossil area, science in motion area (cars, bikes, trains, planes etc.), and a what they call my big backyard gallery (kids interactive area with a backyard theme).  Outside they have an observation area, a small self sufficient solar house, and they also have a planetarium in another building that shows different shows throughout the day.  We didn't do this on this day but will on another.  The kids favorite by far had to be the area where they could pan for their very own minerals, which they got to keep, and next to that they had a dig for fossils area where you got to keep one of the fossils (or sharks tooth) you dug up.  The kids spent the most time in this area and the backyard interactive area.

Payton, Kennedy, Talmage, and Hayden panning for minerals

Brenton looking at his minerals

Hayden with a mineral

Talmage going in for more minerals

Payton searching for minerals

Kennedy

Connor in the backyard interactive area

Connor

 When we were finished with the museum, we went to a nearby park and ate a lunch we had packed and brought from home.  It was a nice sunny day, but windy very windy.  Half the kids ate in the car while the other half was eating in the sun.  After we ate, we walked over to the pond area to watch the ducks for a while.  These were some crazy ducks.  We also spotted some giant cat fish swimming in the water.  I wasn't able to get a clear shot of the catfish under the water.

duck splashing in the water

Some of the many ducks in this pond

More wing flapping from the ducks

We did buy a year pass to this museum so we will definitely be back a few more time before it expires. 

The Newest Cub Scout

On November 2nd, Talmage got to go to Cub Scouts for the first time.  He has been waiting for this day since May when the first boy in his Primary class turned 8 and got to attend Scouts.  Talmage is the youngest one in his class so he was the last one to get baptized and join Scouts.  They meet 3 times a month the first and third Wednesday's are with his den and the fourth Wednesday is with the whole pack.  I love Cub Scouts.  The boys are young, excited, and enjoy it so much more compared to Boy Scouts.  Probably, because it is much easier to pass off things.  Well, it has been a nice 4 years off (since Brenton was last a Cub Scout), but it is also nice to be back into it. 

Talmage's 1st day of Scouts

Talmage 1st day of Cub Scouts

Halloween

After Halloween being on a Sunday last year, The kids were really looking forward to a normal Trick or Treating experience.  We always trick or treat in the Tady's neighborhood.  It is the perfect size neighborhood and the older kids can do all the houses no problem.  Hayden skipped the last 6 because he was tired and his bag was heavy.  This year we took Connor in the wheel chair and that worked out perfect.  He loves to be outside but has a hard time keeping up with everyone.  He wants to go at his pace which is usually pretty slow.  Jon got a great work out since most of the houses are up on a hill and he pushed Connor most of the time.

Kennedy as Rapunzel

Brenton as I'm not sure he just threw on this hooded cape last minute

Payton as a green haired fairy

Talmage as Harry Potter

Hayden as the black spiderman

Connor as a Star War guy

The Tady and Trebilcock kids

We didn't stay long after finishing trick or treating because it is a school night.  I hope they change the trick or treating night in our area to the last Saturday in October instead of October 31st.  With all the commuting parents have to do in our area and then having to think out the next night being school, I think it would be just easier and more relaxed.  If it ever comes to a vote, I am definitely on board to changing it as long as they don't change it to Sunday.

Pumpkin carving

The Saturday before Halloween October 29th we carved our pumpkins.  The kids made up their faces and Jon and I supervised/helped as needed.  You will have to wait until Halloween to see the final results.

Jon helping Hayden carve his pumpkin

The girls carving their pumpkins

Talmage making sure all the seeds are out

Hayden with his pumpkin

Hayden happy with the results of his pumpkin

Jon drawing the face on

Brenton drawing his face on

Kennedy carving away

This day is way more fun for me now that the kids are getting older and can do most of it themselves.  I remember a few years back when the kids were a lot younger and could basically just help take the seeds out, they would tell me what they wanted their pumpkin to look like and to call them when I was done after reaching their hand into the pumpkin about 3 times and got a few seeds out.

Trunk of Treat

Friday October 28th, we had our annual ward Trunk or Treat. Since it was wet and rainy outside, we had to move our location from the Hunter's Christmas Tree Farm to inside the church building. The kids were bummed out because they love going to the farm. We had the activity in the gym. First we started off with the usual hot dog and chili dinner. Since we weren't at the farm we couldn't do the other activities like roasting marshmallow in the fire or the hayrides. Instead, they had little carnival like games set up in some of the classrooms. To end the evening, the kids got to trick or treat inside the gym to parents who were lined up around the perimeter of the gym. It was a fun night and a good turnout. Hopefully next year, the rain wont be around.

Hayden and Kennedy were the only ones that I got a picture of that night. 

Hayden Bumblebee Transformer

Kennedy Rapunzel

Kennedy Rapunzel

It's great to be 8

Talmage turned the big 8 on October 21.  He has been waiting a long time for this birthday, because now in just a few short months he will be getting baptized.  All Talmage wanted was a Nintendo DS.  He has been saving up his money to buy one himself and he will have enough come Christmas with his Christmas money he will get.  I was glad he didn't have enough money before his birthday, because I was planning on buying him one all along.  Of course, I didn't let him know that.  He was very happy when he opened his presents and found one of them to be a DS.  He was excited to try it out right then. 

Talmage with his presents

 The following day we had the relatives come over and celebrate with cake and ice cream.  He got 2 games for his DS and a Target gift card that he bought another DS game with.

Talmage with his DS games

I wonder what this long box could have in it?

This what was in the long box.  A Target gift card.

 Talmge wanted a sugar cookie cake decorated with Lego's.  So that is what he got.  The Lego's are at battle.  One side is on grass the other on dirt.  Jon did the Happy Birthday sign out of Lego's.

Talmage with his cookie cake

Make a wish

Talmage's Lego cookie cake

Happy Birthday buddy!!